Saddle clamp



Jan. 27, 1942. R. w. FAULHABER 2,271,256

' SADDLE CLAMP Filed Feb. 4, 1939 mvENToR. POLA/VD W F40/.HASH

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AWORNEYS acters.

Patented Jan. 27, `1942 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE SADDLE CLAMP Roland W. Faulhaber, Monroeville, Ohio, assignor to The Faulhaber Company, Monroeville, Ohio, a corporation of yOhio Application Februaryv 4, 1939, Serial No. 254,665

7 Claims.

This invention relates to saddles for cycles or the like, and more particularly to an improved clamp for mounting the saddles upon the seat post of vehicles such as bicycles or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a sirnplied clamp having no loose pieces to become lost or mislaid. Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp of a one-piece construction which is lso attached to the saddle that it cannot accidentally become disengaged therefrom andv so constructed that it cannot be attached to the seat post other than in a manner intended to` be attached. Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp of one-piece construction which may be formed by stamping of sheet metal and wherein brittle castings which are liable to breakage are eliminated. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved seat clamp that more securely clamps the seat to the seat post and .provides a greater resistance against turning of the seat on the post. Still other objects and advantages of the invention including those relating to simplicity of construction and economy of manufacture, will appear from the following description of an embodiment thereof which is illustrated by the accompanying drawing and which description forms a part of this specification.

. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical medial section of a saddle and the clamp of my invention showing the clamp attached to a seat post; I

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank used to form the invention illustrated at an intermediate stage of construction.

Referring to the drawing throughout while like parts have been designated by like reference char- The saddle comprises a metal frame member I formed to the usual contour of a saddle and provided with a fabric covering 2 secured on the metal frame about .a bead 3 on the edge of l the frame. The space 4 intermediate the metal frame and the fabric is padded, being filled with a suitable cushioning material such as curled hair or the like. Resilient springs 5 are provided, being secured spaced from the rear of the frame I by lugs struck from the metal frame and engaging one loop of the spring 5 or by securing a member 6 by spot welding to the frame. The other extremities of the springs are secured to a cross piece 'l which is spotwelded transversely on the end of a reach member or bar 8 which extends forwardly from the ycross piece to the nose of the seat.

The reach bar is of substantially rectangular cross section throughout its length, but is formed with a longitudinally extending rib at its midportion 9 of concavo-convex cross section. The concave or under side of said rib provides a groove which is of substantially the same radius as the horizontal-portion I'I of the seat post, the purpose of Which Will hereinafter more clearly appear. Y

The clamp for securing the seat to the seat post is formed by being struck from sheet metal, as best shown in Figure 3, to provide a pair of body portions II of generally rectangular formation connected by a neck I2. I3 is provided in the mid-portion of the neck and a pair of apertures yin each body part. Each of the body apertures comprises a substantially circular `or oval portion I4 spacedfrom the central aperture I3 and in communication with a slot I6. The slots I6 each extend transversely of the blank near the ends of the blank and are shaped to conform to the crosssection of the reach bar. Inwardly extending bosses I5 are provided between the slots I6 andthe openings I4 for engagement with the underside of the reach bar.

The blank l shown in lFigure 3 may be die stamped from sheet metal in one operation, after which the center hole I3 may be threaded as indicated for the subsequent reception of a set-screw 20 (Fig. -2). `After the blank is stamped and threaded, it `is bent along the dotted lines 2| and 22 respectively into U-shape, as best shown in Figure 1 so that the neck I2 through which the set-screw extends is at the bottom. The ends of the blank are then in substantial parallelism with the apertures I4-I6`faxially aligned and adapted to receive the laterally extending portion I'I of the seat post I8,v and the reach bar 8.

The clamp is assembled on the rea-ch bar 8 prior to connecting the reach bar into the metal frame, with the reach bar disposed in the transverse slot I6. When it is desired to attach the saddle tothe seat post I8, the laterally or forwardly extending part of the post I'I is inserted through the aligned holes I4 and the set-screw screwed upuntil it engages againstthe lower side of 'the seat post I1 and tightened. Tightening theA setscrew 2Ilrp`ulls the reach bar 8 securely down against the post `I'I. seating thesame securely in the groove 9. This provides a relatively large surfacearea in contact with the seat post, the friction of which prevents the saddle from turning laterally onl the post.

Inasmuch as'the groove 9 extends longitudinally of the reach bar, the seat can be adjusted to any 'desired longitudinal position, within the limits of its length, over the seat post. A pair of stops 26 may be `provided on the reach bar to limit the distance the clamp can be slid in the reach bar. vThe stops may be either rivets placed in the reach bar or formed by upsetting the metal of the reach bar.

A threaded aperture Y It will thus be seen that I have provided a onepiece clamp, which when once attached to the reach bar of the seat cannot become lost or misplaced and which cannot be assembled on the seat post in any other manner than that intended. Being in one piece it provides extensive economy in manufacture and ease of adjustment. Furthermore, because of the large frictional surface of the reach bar in contactl with the seat post, greater rigidity and security against turning of the seat is had with a minimum of pressure of the threads of the screw 20. It will also be apparent that the greater strength of rolled sheet metal is utilized in the clamp and the cost of the more expensive castings previously used is eliminated. The rib 9 besides furnishing a more secure engagement with the post, also increases the rigidity of the reach bar.

Having thus described my invention, I am aware that modications will be apparent to those versed in the art, and that although I have described the invention in a specific embodiment thereof, it is not my intention that my invention be limited to the specific disclosure otherwise than is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a saddle having a longitudinally extending reach bar, a clamp for clamping the saddle to a longitudinally extending seat post comprising a U-shaped member formed with slots for slidable engagement with the reach bar and openings for reception of the` seat post, a locking screw threaded in the bottom 'of the clamp and engaging the underside of the seat post adapted to pull the reach bar against the seat post.

2. A saddle clamp for connecting the reach bar of a saddle to a rest part comprising a single U-shaped member bent from a strip of material and having a pair of axially aligned transverse slots in the ends of the legs formed to conform to the cross section of the reach bar and adapted to be placed on the reach bar during assembly of the saddle, a pair of seat post receiving slots communicating with said transverse slots and extending toward the bottom of the U, a set-screw threaded through the bottom of the U and extending upward between the legs of the U, said set-screw adapted to engage the underside of the seat post and pull the reach bar securely down and clamp it against the seat post.

3. In combination with a saddle, a reach bar extending longitudinally thereof and having a longitudinally extending rib of conoavo-convex cross section intermediate its edges, a clamp for clamping the saddle to a seat post comprising anl integral U-shaped member formed with apertures adjacent the ends of its legs, said apertures shaped to conform to the cross section of the reach bar, said clamp being disposed on said reach bar with the reach bar extending through the apertures, said legs being formed with openings conforming to the shape of the seat post for the reception of the seat post and connected with said first mentioned apertures; a set screw threaded through the bottom of the clamp to engage the underside of the seat post and to pull the clamp down together with the reach bar and seat, and clamp said seat post securely in said concave portion of said rib.

4. In combination with a saddle., a reach bar extending longitudinally thereof and having a longitudinally extending rib of concavo-convex cross section intermediate its edges, a clamp for clamping the saddle to a seat post comprising an integral U-shaped member formed with apertures adjacent the ends of its legs, said apertures shaped to conform to the cross section of the reach bar, said clamp being disposed on said reach bar with the reach bar extending through the apertures, said legs being formed with openings to permit insertion therethrough of the seat post, said seat post apertures being connected with said rst mentioned apertures; a set screw threaded through the bottom of the clamp to engage the underside of the seat post and to pull the clamp down together with the reach bar and seat, and clamp said seat post securely in said concave portion of said rib in frictional engagement with the reach bar.

5. In combination with a saddle having a 1ongitudinally extending reach bar and a seat post arranged parallel with said reach bar, a clamp securing said reach bar to said seat post comprising a sheet metal U-shaped member, the legs of said U-shaped member being formed with transverse slots receiving and iitting said reach bar, said legs also being formed with aligned openings disposed between said slots and the bight of said U-shaped member and communieating with said slots, said seat post being disposed in said openings and a set screw extending through the bight of said U-shaped member into engagement with said seatv post and clamping the upper side of said seat post against the under side of said reach bar and the upper side of said reach bar against the upper margins of said slots.

6. In combination with a saddle having a longitudinally extending reach bar with a longitudinally extending groove in its lower surface and a seat post arranged parallel with said reach bar, a clamp securing said reach bar to said seat post comprising a sheet metal U-shaped member, the legs of said U-shaped member being formed with transverse slots receiving and tting said reach i bar, said legs also being formed with aligned openings disposed between said slots and the bight of said U-shaped member and communicating with said slots, said seat post being disposedv in said openings and a set screw extending through the bight of said U-shaped member into engagement with said seat post and clamping the upper side of said seat post against the grooved under side of said reach bar and the upper side of said reach bar against the upper margins of said slots.

7. In combination with a seat having a longitudinally extending reach bar and a seat post disposed parallel with said reach bar, a clamp securing said reach bar against said seat post comprising a U-shaped sheet metal member, each of the legs of said U-shaped member being lformed with a transversely extending slot receiving and fitting said reach bar and an opening disposed between said slot and the bight of said U-shaped member and communicating with said slot, each of the legs of said U-sha-ped member having bosses projecting towards each other and partially separating said slot from said opening, said seat post extending through thev opening in the legs of said U-shaped member and means carried by the bight of said U-shaped member clamping said seat post in engagement with said bosses and with the under side of said reach bar.

ROLAND W. FAULHABER. 

